Portable tool case



Aug. 5, 1941. J. c. NEWTON PORTABLE TOOL CASE- Filed Feb. 17, 1938 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Aug. 5 1941.

J. c. NEWTCY)N 2,251,753

PORTABLE TOOL CASE Filed Feb. 17, 1938 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 5, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE TOOLCASE John 0. Newton, Oak Park, Ill. Application February 1'7, 1938, Serial No. 190,945

(Cl. 20616) 7 a 8 Claims.

Theinvention relates to cases for tools such as those used by mechanics, carpenters and other artisans, and more particularly to an improved tool case of the portable type. I

One object of the invention is to provide a tool case of the above character which, while of compact construction, has a large tool carrying capacity and in which each tool may be held in its own individual space and in a position such that the tools are conveniently displayed for visual inspection and readily accessible for use when the case is opened.

Another object is to provide a tool case of the type having outwardly opening side sections wherein the carrying handle, serves additionally as a latch to hold the side sections closed so that any possibility of the case becoming accidentally opened while being carried is effectively avoided.

Still another object is to provide a novel combined carrying handle and latching device for portable tool cases or the like which is of simple and sturdy construction, which is inexpensive to manufacture and which is efficient in operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of the parts as will be described in detail hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool case embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tool case With the side sections opened.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the case taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the case taken along the same line as Fig. 3 and showing the side sections in open position.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the case showing details of the carrying handle and latch mechanism.

Fig. '7 is a'detail View of one of the trays with which the case is fitted.

The improved tool case may be made of sheet metal, wood or other suitable material. As herein shownjit comprises generally a rectangular box-like base section 8 and opposed complementary side sections 9 and ID. The base section 8 is of s'ufiicient depth to provide storage space for miscellaneous supplies or tools that are not readily accommodated on supporting fixtures. Preferably, the base is divided into .a series of separate compartments by suitable partitioning members IL:

The side sections 9 and It are preferably identical-in form. As herein shown, each comprises a rectangular box-like body with the bottom'wall and a side wall omitted. These sections'are mounted above the base with their open sides facing, so that together they constitute theupper portion of the complete case.

The side sections are secured respectively to opposed side edges of the base 8 by hinges I2 so as to open outwardly and to meet substan ,tially at the center line of the base when closed together. Jointed links l3 connected between the base and the cover sections limit the out-, ward movement of the latter so that when the case is opened, the'side sections are held in an upwardly andinwardly opening position and the tools stored within the base 8 are fully exposed to view.

In the particular case illustrated, each side section is divided into arelatively large upper compartment l4 and a' substantially smaller lower compartment l5 by a partitioning member I6 extending longitudinally of the section. The compartments it: are particularlyadapted to accommodate sliding drawers or trays H and [8 suitable for holding tools or supplies, such as bolts, nuts, cotter pins, nails, etc.

The trays l1 and I8 may be supported in any suitable manner so as to slide into and out of their respective compartments. shown, support for the trays is provided by Wood or metal strips in the form of cleats l9. secured to the end walls of the cover sections which form ledges for holding the trays. The trays may restdirectly on the cleats or may be provided with projecting cleat-engaging members 20 at each end as' shown in Fig. 7.

The cleats H! are preferably formed so as to prevent the trays'from accidentally sliding out of their compartments when the case is closed and for supporting the trays in 'a withdrawn position. To this end, each cleat is formed with a shoulder or abutment-20 on its upper edge adapted to engage the forward edge of the tray or cleat-engaging member 20 and acting as a stop to prevent'movement of the tray out of the As herein compartment. When the tray is to be withdrawn, it is lifted sufiiciently to clear the shoulder and may then be pulled forwardly and out of the compartment.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 3, the projecting end of the cleat I9 is formed with its upper edge inclined at an angle with respect to the upper edge of the portion within the tray compartment. The tray when withdrawn may be supported in an upright position on this projecting portion of the cleat, and due to the inclination thereof, it is held in a position such that its upper rear edge engages the partitioning member I6, as shown in Fig. 4. The tray is therefore prevented from accidentally sliding backjinto. the

It may be replaced in thecom- V compartment. 7 partment when desired, however, bysimply tilt ing it sufficiently to pass under the'partitioningv member.

The upper compartment M of the side section provides ample storage space for a wide variety of tools. These. may be conveniently carried-- on tool-retaining fi xtures 2! secured tothe walls of the section. A numberof-different-fixtures have been shownby way of illustration, but itwill be appreciatedth-at these may vary inform according to the-particular: type of tools to bestored in the-case. j Q r V v Additional mounting space for tools is; provided by a swinging tool support 22 which, in the present instance, forms a cover or lid for theopen side of the upper compartment l4. The support 22 is preferably hinged-at its loweredge to; the partitioning member 16 in a-manner; such that it may be swung outwardlytoward theopposite side section when thecase is opened.- Itmay be fitted with. the tool ret-aining fixtures j 21- on. both sides as shownin -Figs.:2 and4: These, with the fixtures-mounted within the compartments Land the compartments of the base 8,prov-ide-anz-individ-ual space for each of alarge numberof tools. e

'ach' support 22 is fitted with a suitablespring catch 23 adapted to-hold it inclosedpositionr A suitable gripping member such as afinger hole r 24in the support adjacent th'e catch provides-a means by which the catch may be disengaged and the support swung to its open position. Movement of thesupport is limited-by a flexible member in the formof a chain 2-5 connectedbetween the side section and the support The chains 25 are preferablyof suitable-length to holdthe supports in a. position for readily displaying the contents of the compartmentsr l4 as wellas the tools carried on th'e'inner. sidesof the support. 7

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be observedthat the partitioningmembers l6 andibottom walls of.the sidesections Band II] are substantially narrower than the top wallsof the-sections- This provides increased'accessibility to the base 8 as the baseis substantially fully uncovered whenthesidesections 9 and II] are swung to the'open. position shown-in Fig. 4.- Moreover, since the --su p ports 22 are hinged tothe-iorward edgeof the partitioning members, they define a compartment 25* generally" triangular in cross section which extends'upwardly from the base ;8- substantially to the top walls of' thesidesections. 'The'space thus provided permits the storage of" relatively large tools in the" centralportion of the base 8 and is also adapted to accommodate toolsretained on the outer sides of the supporting members'22.' n a It will-be apparent thatthe improvedv tool case has a large tool carrying capacity, and yet by reason of the novel construction and arrangement of the parts above described is capable of holding the tools in a manner such that they are readily accessible for inspection or use. Thus, when the side sections 9 and I 0 are opened, the tools stored in the base are fully exposed. Further, the sections are held by the links I 3 at an angle such that the tool supports 22 face inwardly and upwardly so that the tools retained thereon are all in plain view.

The tools stored in the compartments l4 and on the inner faces of the supports 22 likewise may be fully exposed by swinging the supports to open position. The supports are thus held at an anglesuch that the tools in the compartments; as well as those retained on the inner faces of the supports, are all in plain view.

For carrying the case, I provide a combined carrying handle and latching device of novel construction. In its preferred form, this device comprises generally a U-shaped member 26 pivotally secured-to one side section and a cooperating member 21 pivoted to the other side section. The member 26 consists of'side bars 28 rigidly connected at one end bya-flat transversebar 29, Thebars 29 are pivoted to brackets 30 secured in any suitablemanner to the top wall of the section ll] so that the member can swing transverselyv otthe case and extend slightly beyond the center line ofthe-case When'the case is closed as shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

The member 21 preferably comprises-tWo'U- shaped elements,-one having side bars'3 l connected by a rigid cross bar '32- and pivoted on brackets. 33 suitably secured to the top wall of the section 5. The other element has side bars 34 pivoted to the freeends' of the side bars. 31 of the first mentioned element closely adjacent the cross bar 32. The projecting ends of" the sidebars-34 are connected by a suitable cross pin 3-5 which may conveniently be enclosed by a tubular member 36 of wood or other suitable material which constitutesa carrying handle.

The member 21 is slightly narrower than-the U-shaped'member 26 and is mounted so that it may be inserted through the'lattermember and interlocked therewith when the sections 9' and 10- are-closed together. When the members 26 and 21- are-thus interlocked, the handle 33 is graspedandthe sidebars 36 are raised to a-substantially vertical position in which they engage the cross bar 29 of the member and thereby tend to draw the two sidesections" together. It Will be apparent, therefore, that any liability of the case opening accidentally while being carried is effectivel avoided by the above construction.

The combined carrying and latching device may also'be utilized to lock the sid'e'se'ction's 9 and I0 in c10se'd position. To this end; the'c'ross members 29 and 32 are formed with suitable holes 31 adapted to register whenthe carrying membersare interlocked." A padlock 38 or the like is inserted through the-holes, thus preventing. opening the case. Other latching means such as draw bolts 39 may be provided'for 'holding'the caseclosed independently of' thelock.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides-a portable tool case of novel and improved construction. The case is constructed and arranged to utilize the available space to best'advantage and thus has a relatively large storage capacity for its size. Individual mounting space is provided for'eachtool 'so that they may be found whenrequired for use, or

their absence may be quickly detected upon visual inspection. The various elements of the case are so constructed and arranged that the tools are conveniently displayed for such inspection and are readily accessible for use upon opening the case so that no time need be lost in hunting for a desired tool.

The improved case also embodies novel means constituting a combined carrying handle and latching means which efi'ectively prevents accidental opening of the case while being carried. The combined handle and latch device is simple and sturdy in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and very efiective in operation.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tool case comprising, in combination, a rectangular box-like base section open at the top, complementary box-like side sections hinged to opposite sides of the base section to open outwardly and effective to completely cover the base section when closed together, said base section and said side sections forming compartments for the storage of tools, a swinging tool supporting member hinged to each side section to cover the compartment of the associated section when in whatever tools that may be stored in the base 1 section or retained on the outer sides of said supporting members, and means for limiting the opening movements of said supporting members eiTective to hold the members when opened in a position to expose tools which may be retained i in the compartments of the side sections and on the inner sides of the members.

2. A tool case comprising, in combination, a rectangular box-like base section open at the top, complementary box-like side sections hinged to opposite sides of the base section to open outwardly and efiective to completely cover the base section when closed together, said base section and said side sections forming compartments for the storage of tools, a swinging tool supporting member hinged to each side section to cover the compartment of the associated section when in closed position and adapted to open toward the center of the case, said supporting members being spaced apart when the case is closed to define a compartment in the central portion of the case capable of accommodating relatively large tools stored in the base or tools retained on the outer sides of the supporting members, and means for limiting the opening movements of the side sections and supporting members effective when the case is opened to hold the same in a position to display whatever tools are stored in said compartments or retained on said supporting members.

3. A tool case comprising, in combination, a rectangular box-like base section open at the top, complementary box-like side sections hinged to opposite sides of said base to open outwardly and to close together to completely cover the base section, a partitioning member in each side section dividing the section into upper and lower compartments, a tray slidably supported in each lower compartment, a tool supporting member hinged to the partitioning member of each side section and effective to close the section, said partitioning members being substantially narrower than the top walls of the respective side sections so that the partitioning members are disposed at an angle to the base section to define therewith a relatively large compartment of generally triangular cross section which extends from the base substantially to the top walls of the side sections, said trays conforming in Width to the width of said partitioning members whereby "the base section is substantially completely uncovered when the side sections are swung to open position.

4. A tool case having, in combination, a base section, a side section hinged to said base section and adapted to be tilted outwardly at an angle to the base section, a compartment extending longitudinally of the side section, a tray adapted to slide into and out of said compartment, and guide means for said tray comprising cleats secured to the end walls of the section adjacent the bottom of said compartment, said cleats having a portion within the compartment presenting ledges for supporting the tray in a substantially vertical position when the case is closed and a portion without the compartment presenting ledges disposed at an angle to said first mentioned ledges whereby to hold the tray in an upright position when withdrawn from the compartment with the side section in tilted position.

5. A tool case comprising, in combination, a rectangular base section, side sections hinged to opposite sides of said base section and adapted to be tilted outwardly at an angle to the base section when the case is opened, trays for each side section, and tray supporting elements forming ledges on the end walls of said side sections for slidably supporting the trays, said elements being formed with angularly related upper edge portions effective respectively to hold a tray in open and closed positions.

6. A tool case comprising, in combination, a rectangular box-like base section open at its upper end, complementary side sections hinged to opposite sides of said base section to open outwardly, means for limiting the outward movement of said side sections to a position defining an angle with the side walls of the base section,

' a tray for each side section, and tray supporting and guiding elements carried on the walls of the sections, said elements being formed with abutments operative to hold the tray against accidental withdrawal from the section.

7. In a portable tool case, in combination, a base section, a pair of side sections hinged to said base section to swing outwardly and to close together, and a combined carrying handle and latching device for the case comprising a U-shaped member pivoted on one side section, a cooperating member including spaced side bars each pivoted at one end on the other side section and adapted to be inserted through said U-shaped member to interlock with the same, and a carrying handle secured between the free ends of said side bars operative to force the bars into engagement with the cross piece of said U-shaped member and thereby draw the side sections together when the case is lifted by means of said handle.

8. A combined carrying handle and latching device for portable tool cases of the type having opposed side sections hinged to swing outwardly and to close together, said device comprising, in combination a generally U-shaped member adapted to be pivotally secured to one section of the case, a second member adapted to be pivoted to the other section of the case and insertable through said U-shaped member when the sections are closed together, said second member including a pair of spaced side bars each pivoted at one end on saidother section, a second pair ofside barseach pivotedto the free end of one of said first bars, and across piece connecting the free ends of saidv second bars to form a carrying handle for the-case, said. second pair ofbars being movable to a substantially vertical OHN C. NEWTON. 

